Pussy Riot Case to Be Decided August 17

In Moscow, the case against the long-detained feminist punk group Pussy Riot is coming down to the wire. A judge has concluded the trial and will deliver a verdict on August 17, Rian reports. Prosecutors are looking to imprison the trio of women for three years.

Three members of Pussy Riot were jailed in March-- Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, Maria Alyokhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29-- following a February 21 performance at Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral, which lasted less than one minute. The group shouted a "punk prayer", which declared "Virgin Mary, Mother of God, become a feminist!" and "Put Putin out," while clenching their fists and punching the air. The act was explicitly political.

But Russian prosecutors claim the "punk prayer" intended to offend the Orthodox Christian community, and the three members were charged with "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred." The band's lawyer, however, maintains the accusations of "hooliganism" are flawed, seeing as Pussy Riot neither provoked nor threatened violence or damage to the church.

The Pussy Riot collective's 20+ members came together in September 2011, following Vladimir Putin's plans to again run for presidential office. In fall and winter, the group staged and filmed inspired, auti-Putin guerilla shows in Moscow's various public venues-- subways, squares, rooftops-- for flash events that bordered on public theater or political performance art, drawing inspiration from Bikini Kill and classic oi! punk. Their trademark uniform comprised short dresses, brightly-colored tights, and colored ski-masks.

Amnesty International has declared Pussy Riot "prisoners of conscience," noting they they face the danger of being sent to a labor camp where they would be at risk of physical and sexual abuse. In a statement on the organization's website (via The Boston Phoenix), Europe and Central Asia Program Director John Dalhuisen wrote,

"Even if the action was calculated to... cause offence, the activists left the Cathedral when requested to do so and caused no damage. The entire action lasted only a few minutes and caused minimal disruption to those using the Cathedral for religious purposes."

Putin, who was re-elected in March, stated last Thursday, "There is nothing good in what [Pussy Riot] did [but] I don't think they should be judged too severely." There is nonetheless continued room for concern; the case has been largely divisive in Russia. As The Times noted yesterday, "Russians remain distinctly uncomfortable with activist women," explaining, "Liberalism in Russia is a peculiar beast... Gender equality and the rights of ethnic minorities and gays all remain firmly outside of its scope."

Today was the eighth and final day of hearings for Pussy Riot, where each day the band members were held in a glass cage. As time closes in, artists and musicians have continued to call for the liberation of Pussy Riot, including Kathleen Hanna, Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, Björk, Madonna, Corin Tucker, Grass Widow, and more. Ad Rock made his first public appearance following the death of Adam Yauch to DJ at a benefit to support Pussy Riot.

Visit the Free Pussy Riot campaign to learn more. Watch footage of Pussy Riot performing, below, followed by a clip of Kathleen Hanna speaking out in support. Hanna has also written a blog post wherein she encourages supporting Pussy Riot to revive riot grrrl.